Sea wall and method of making same



Nov. 27, 1928. v

R. M. MILLER ET AL SEA WALL AND METHOD oF MAKING su;

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30. 1925 Nov. 27, 1928A. 1,693,311

R. M..M|LLER E'rAL SEA WALL AND METHOD OF MAKING sus Filed Nov. so, 1925 '2 sheets-sneer 2 3 I A4, MILL. E@l

f Z I Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. l

ROBERT M. MILLER, OF FORT LAUDERDALE, AND HERBERT D. HDGSON, F MIAMI,

FLORIDA.

SEA WALL AND METHOD MAKING SAME.

Application led November 1925. Serial No 72,311.

Sea walls, or retaining walls, or bulkheads along water fronts, especially salt water fronts, have to contend with conditions of outward pressure from the landV side, the n force and lapping effect of the water on the water side, and the destructivev effect of marine borers, and of the corrosive or oxidizing eifect of salt water on metal. These conditions call for strength, rigidly or stability, and safeguarding from the work of marine borers and :corrosion by the action of salt water. The primary object of our invention is to provide a bulkhead, or seal wall construction, which will successfully deal with the conditions just briefly mentioned, and above all will do that at the minimum of cost of construction, which, of course, is a highly irnportant consideration. y

Our invention consists inwhatever is described by or is included within the terms or scope of the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings which are illustrative of our invention, but not restrictive of the scope thereof:

Fig. l is a front elevation showing the structure in process of erection;

i Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the upper part of the struct-ure shown in Fig. l;

Fig. .3 is a top plan view of `what is shown au in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4L is a view in vertical section of the completed structure, the forms used in casting` the concrete having been removed and the vertical precast slab being shown as united with the horizontal slab which is poured after the placing of the vertical slab,

Fig. 5 Vis a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, which shows the structure dur- Y ing construction, and with the inclined piling,

13, not shown in section. Y

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showing the application of our invention to existing timber bulkheads.

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views of other applications of our invention to existing timber bulkheads. Y.

Referring to what is shown in the drawings, in thepractice of our invention as we now consider that to be most advantageously l done, we drive or employ two parallel rows of timber piles, a front or outer row, 10, and a back or inner row, 11, spacedapart, front to back, say two feet, sixinches, on centers (although, of course, we do not restrictourselves 'to this spacing), andthe piles of each row being spaced apart at desired intervals tied together by a bolt, 12, which extends at an incline-'or slope downwardly or rearwardly, this bolt connection giving stiffness and stability that will resist efectually any rooking or turning motion of the struct-ure due to outward pressure of the earth lill. If desired, a batter timber pile, 13, bolted to the `upper end of the pile of the linner row of piles may be employed, that extends downwardlyv and forwardly, as clearly shown'in 4, such a batter pile being desirable under some conditions for anchorage to resist Voutward pressure by the earth fill.

To. the outer side of the piles of the outer row is applied a precast slab of reinforced concrete, the slab being made in sections of suitable length having reference to the longitudinal spacing of t-he piles, the vertical joints between adjacent sides being preferablylocated in line with the vertical center of the piles, and the slab sections being of dimensions vertically that will result in the embedding of the lower portions thereof into the sea bottom, say for illustration from six inches to twelve inches. The slab sections are reinforced vertically and also horizontally as well, preferably, by suitable reinforce ment which, preferably, consists in yspaced apart vertical rods, 14, and spaced apart horizontal rods, 15, the vertical rods extending, preferably, above the top of the .slab

vsections for a-.purpose presently to appear.

The slab sections have embedded in them at the upper part, rods that are bent to form eyes or loops, 16, projecting above the top by soY which the slabs are suspended from the piles,

as by means of hooks, 17, secured to the tops of the piles, and, preferably, by the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, where the hooks extend divergently to the tops of adjacent slab sections, and thus, serve to hold the abutting side ledges or `joints together. Of course, other suspending means may be employed and different forms of. suspending means may be employed if the piles are driven o center. The matter of the `joint between the slab sections is of vital importance, because itmust Y be so tight as to preclude the entrance of sea water vv'hich would result in the Adisintegration oi the slab. We, therefore, make a dove'- tail connection at the abutting edges, oratongue and groove connection, the tongue, 18, being preferably wedge-shaped and the groove correspondingly inclined.

f The slab sections havingv projecting from their sides next to the piles, rods, 19, or' sut.

casting of concrete around each ot the front piles,t'osurround cach pile with concrete and toV lill the spacefbetween the inner side of the slab sections and the pile, and thus, unite theV `slab sections andl the concrete poured around the pile, and thus, safeguard the enclosed pile from access of sea water. For

this step of the operation a form or boX, .20,v

is built of sheet piling around each pile, as

` shown in Fig. 5, and into the form thus providedtlie concrete is poured and in dealing with seaV water preferably tremie concrete is used.

After allowing time for hardening of the tremi'e concrete, say twenty-four hours, the space behind the slab sections is filled to a level below the tops oi the piles of the two rows, and then forms are set flush with the face of the slab Aand to a suitabledistance behind Vthe rear piles. Reinforcement 'consisting preferably-of rods, 2l, is placed andthen concrete is poured to cover the space above the top of the lill', and above the upper ends of the piles, and to embed the upwardly projecting portion of the vertical rods ot the slab sections, andthus, a horizontal. slab, 22, ot reinforced concrete is provided, having at the frontV an upwardly extending flange or curb. 23, giving to the horizontal slab thus formed an L-shape. The curb supports thetill to the grade abovethe horizontal portion of the slab, 22. It will be seen that by means of the vertical reinforcing lrods or' the slab sections and the embedment thereof at their upper ends inthe horizontal slab, 22, the precast slab Vsections' derive theirvertical support by these rods, and hence, even though by scouring action of the water, the earth or sea bottom support at the bottom of the slab should be removed, the vertical tace slab will nevertheless be supported in position and thus the integrity of the structure preserved. Obviously should the vvertical face slab depend for itssupportfupon the sea, bottom, if the latter should be washed away, the vslab 'structure would collapse.

. It will be yseen that although timber piling is used, and iron rods or bolts are used, both metaland wood are protected from the action of the destructive forces all around them,

whether the action of the water itseli:` or marine borers. The front piles are protected by the complete encasement of concrete.

`Danger of rotting of the .rear piles is prevented by placing the horizontal top slab, 22, at such a level, thatthe till below it is at all times saturated by capillary attraction to a point at least two feet above mean tide levels, and thus,the piles are kept in a continually saturated state. f

Uur sea wall has all the stability and dura bility of the usual form or" an entirely concrete bulkhead, yet because ot' its employment ot' timber-piling, the cost of construction is much less than that or an all concrete construction. All the work of installation is ,done above the water line, and hence, economy of construction is secured compared with types ofconstruction which require the use otcotlerdam worlrV and pumping. Although we use tremie concrete, yet the quantity required is so small'that it may be economically mixed by hand. I A

As illustrated in Fig. 6 our invention is shownl appliedv in connection' with timber bulkheads already erected, the original bullihead construction comprising only the rear row of timber pilings. p

In Figs. 7 and 8 which show other arrangements for utilizing our invention with timber bulkheads already erected, a slab at the top corresponding with the horizontal slab, 2l, ot Fig. 4 is omitted and in each case the precast slab is poured or formed with a coping at the top which on its inner side has an inwardly projecting flange. This flange, 24, in the case of Fig. 7 rests upon the top of the 'front piling, 100, and is thereby supported in vaddition to the support derived from the rods, 190,.em

bedded in the concrete encasing the piles, 100. In Fig. 8 the original piling, lll, is utilized as the ront'or supporting piling for the precast slab, and the coping flange, 25, may rest upon the tops of such original pilings,ior ii the original piling has been partially destroyed by marineborers, or has deteriorated from other causes` the upper part may be cut oil and the concrete cast about the cut oli pilings is carried above the same to the desired level, and upon the top thereof, said coping Vflange, 25, rests. In the case of the construction shown in Fig. 8, ties, 26, extend back to the original anchor pile. l

What is claimed is: l 1. A sea wall comprising spaced rows ot wood piling, one row being nearer the water than the othena concrete slab between the front row and the water, a lill inrear of said slab, and a horizontal slab at the tops of the rows of piling and oining with the top of the slab situated between the front piling'and 'the' water. Y Y Y. f

2. A sea wall comprising spaced rows of wood piling, one row being nearer the water than 'the other, a concrete slab between the front row' and the water, a fill in rear of said slab, and a horizontal slab at t-he tops of the rows of piling and oining with the top of the slab situated between the front piling and the water, said horizontal slab having an upwardly extending curb next to the water.

3. A sea wall comprising spaced rows of wood piling, one row being nearer the water than the other, a concrete slab between the front row and the water, a lill in rear of said slab, a horizontal slab at the tops of the rows oi piling and joining with the top of the slab situated between the front piling and the water, and concrete surrounding the pilings oi the front row and reaching to theslab betwen said pilings and the water.

4. A sea wall comprising spaced rows of wood piling, one row being nearer t-he water than the other, a concrete slab between the front row and the water, a till in rear of said slab, a horizontal slab at the tops of the rows of p iling and joining with the top of the slab situated between the front piling and the water, said horizontal slab having an upwardly extending curb nexttothe water, and concrete enclosing the port-ions of the piles of the front row adjacent the slab lying over such piles.

5. A sea. wall comprising wood piling, a concrete slab extending between such piling and the water, means independent of the sea bottom supporting such slab, including means suspending the slab at the top from the tops of the adjacent pilings.

6. The method of constructing sea walls which consists in providing rows of pilings, one row being back of the other row, supporting a precast concrete slab between the 'front row of pilings and the water, applyinfg concrete protecting means to t-he pilings of the front row and joining the saine to the precast slab and finally pouring a horizontal slab of concrete at the tops of the pilings and the top of said slab and joining the same to the top of said precast slab.

7. The method of constructing sea walls which consists in providing rows of pilings,

one row being back of the other row. supporting a precast concrete slab between the front row of pilings and the water, applying concrete protecting means to the pilings of the front row and joining the same to the precast slab, making a fill in rear of the precast slab, and finally pouring a horizontal slab of concrete at the tops of the. pilings and the top of said slab and joining the same to the top of said precast slab.

8. A seawall comprising a piling, a precast concrete slab extending vertically between the piling and the water,rodsprojectingrearward from said slab, a body of concrete extending over the top of the piling, and joining with said slab, and concrete extending around the piling, and reaching to and united with the inner side of said vertical slab and embedding said rods which project rearward from the slab. Y

9. The method. of constructing sea walls which consists in supporting a precast concrete slab between the piling and the water, applying concrete protecting means about the piling where the piling is not covered by such slab, and joining the same. to the precast slab, and finally forming a horizontal slab of concrete at the top of said precast slab and the top of said piling.

l0. VA seawall comprising piling arranged in two rows, one back of the other, a precast slab supported between the piling next to the water and the water, a fill in rear of such precast. slab supported against outward pressure by the slab, concrete around the piling at the inner side of the precast slab and joined tothe latter, and a body of concrete extending over the tops of both rows of piling and united with the inner side of said vertical slab;

lll. A seawall comprising piles, a vertical concrete slab between the piles and the water, rods embedded in and projecting rearward from said slab and concrete about said piles into which the rearwardly projecting prtions of said rods enter.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

ROBERT M. MILLER. [L 8.] HERBERT D. HoDGsoN. [a s] 

